If I were starting today, I'd grab one of the imported Ashers and dive in. I find that longer scale lengths allow better intonation and sound better. Shorter scale lengths make slants easier and enable higher tunings. Open D (DADF#AD), D minor (DADFAD), Dsus2 (DADEAD), Open G (DGDGBD), G minor (DGDGBbD), Gsus2 (DGDGAD). I switch tunings a lot between major, minor, and sus2. Track Order Store Info Help Centre New In Summer Sale Merch Brands Guides Blog Menu. Buy a fantastic lap steel guitar at Andertons, available with free next day UK delivery and on 0 finance - subject to status.

Personally, I play a few Asher lap steels. Buy a fantastic lap steel guitar at Andertons, available with free next day UK delivery and on 0 finance - subject to status. These tunings have lots of idiomatic consequences, so it helps to have some sense of where you think you're headed. For the latter, I think longer works better (I use 25'). For the former, you'll probably want a shorter scale length (23' is common, I think). Contrast that to open D tuning D-A-D-F#-A-D, which has the lowest note a step below your low E string.

The typical C6 tuning is C-E-G-A-C-E, so the lowest note is like the 3rd fret of the A string.

Some of the big decisions you'll need to make are scale length and tuning(s). There are lots of vintage pieces out there that are great, but plenty that aren't (lame wood, hardware that is breaking down, pickups that need rewinding, or whatever). Resonant wood, solid hardware, and a decent pickup (or two) is all you really need.

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